U adds duo to ‘Hulk’ cast

Actors Gregory Sporleder and Lynn Red Williams have signed on to star in “Hulk,” Universal’s bigscreen adaptation of the Marvel comic book series.

Sporleder will play Novak, the green superhero’s arch-nemesis in the film, which is written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh and produced by Gale Anne Hurd.

Williams, a former professional football player, will take on the role of a convict who transforms into a combination of human, ant and beetle after a gamma ray experiment goes awry and turns three violent criminals into dangerous mutants.

The title role, that of mild-mannered Dr. Bruce Banner and his outsized alter ego, has not been cast. Filming is set for April, but the pre-production process, which involves the creation of elaborate prosthetics and computer animation, is already under way.

Meanwhile, Sporleder is set to star in the upcoming play “The Accidental Death of an Anarchist” for John Cusack’s New Crime Prods. Written by Nobel laureate Dario Fo and directed by Steve Pink, the play opens Nov. 14 at the Evidence Room in Culver City.

His other credits include “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “The Rock” and “Renaissance Man.”

Sporleder was repped in the deal by Glenn Robbins at Abrams Artists and manager Kimberly Hines.

Williams will next appear in “Mortal Kombat — Annihilation,” set for a Nov. 21 release. He also appeared in HBO’s “Tyson” and is a former battler on “American Gladiators.” He was steered in his “Hulk” deal by managers Tami Holzman and Lena Roklin, and by agents Katie Mason and Jeff Goldberg of APA.